Jesus is not ashamed to be called your big brother.

Hebrews 2:11 New International Version (NIV)

11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holyare of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.[a]

My brother is 3 1/2 years older than me. When we were growing up, he blazed the trail ahead of me in most everything in life... School, our parents, work, friends, even girls. Though we did go through many of the things that other siblings go through, my brother was always there to help guide me through life.

Throughout my school years, it was comforting to know that my big brother was always there to protect me from bullies and to help me transition from one grade to another. It is really great having a big brother!

In Romans 8, the Bible says that Jesus is the first born among many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29). In today's promise, the writer of Hebrews is telling us that Jesus Christ, the only begotten of the Father, is not ashamed to call us His family. What an amazing truth! Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah... is our big brother!

He has gone before us in every way. The Bible says that He suffered every temptation common to man yet without sin. He is a faithful High Priest who understands all of our struggles. He took upon Himself our sin and He has shared His vast inheritance with us. ...And He is not ashamed to be called our big brother!

My encouragement today is to take some time to reflect on the fact that God's eternal plan was to bring you into His everlasting family so that He could be your Father and Jesus could be your big brother. What an amazing salvation we have in the Triune God... Father, Son & Holy Spirit! Hallelujah!